Chapter 11

Edith groaned dramatically, pressing her hand to her forehead under Xavier's piercing gaze. "I almost got burned to death! I even saw your grandfather waving at me!" Lily remained silent, feeling the heat rise in her cheeks. She could feel Xavier's scrutinizing gaze on her for a long while before it finally shifted to Edith. She bit her lip, quietly sitting there, pretending to focus on Edith's theatrics, trying not to think too much about the way Xavier was looking at her. "Grandma." Xavier entered the room, his tailored suit sharp and impeccable. His tall, confident figure stood under the dazzling lights, casting a shadow that made Lily feel as though the light above her head had dimmed. She couldn't help but glance at him, feeling a fleeting dizziness. His presence was magnetic, and though she couldn't make out his features clearly from where she sat, she felt an irresistible urge to look again. "Xavier, do you know what your grandfather said when he was waving at me?" Edith asked, adjusting her glasses with a glint in her eyes as she peered through her fingers at Xavier. Xavier had an aristocratic presence, with strikingly handsome and refined features, immediately marking him as someone extraordinary. Edith had always believed that no one could be a match for Xavier. But ever since she saw Lily, she felt they were a perfect match. They were destined to be together. Lily was gentle and graceful, with delicate features like a porcelain doll. She couldn't imagine a more perfect couple. "He said 'Don't come see me before you get to see your great-grandchild."" Xavier's lips moved slightly, and his gaze subtly shifted toward Lily. Her long hair cascaded down her shoulders. She looked innocent, her soft skin glowing under his gaze. Xavier's throat tightened slightly, his body stiffening. Edith snapped her fingers, her eyes darting between them. "Right! That's exactly what he said! So, when are you two going to have a baby?" Lily had long since gotten used to Edith's incessant prodding about children, but her blunt, almost absurd way of going about it always left her feeling embarrassed. Her ears flushed red, and she hesitated, wondering how to avoid the awkwardness of this conversation today. Usually, when Edith would press Lily about having kids, Xavier would intervene, letting Lily come up with an excuse to avoid it. She'd already thought of every excuse, and in the midst of lying and avoiding the topic, she decisively decided to pass the ball to Xavier. "Edith, it's up to him." Xavier's gaze darkened even further as soon as the words left her mouth. "Can you really leave me in this position, unable to explain things to your grandfather?" Edith craned her neck and confronted Xavier. Xavier casually adjusted his sleeve, his voice indifferent. "Your great-grandchild's pressure is too much for me. I don't want you to go meet Grandpa yet so I'm not having a child anytime soon." Edith's eyes widened, her throat closing up as if choked by an invisible force, unable to say another word. "Dinner's ready, Mrs. Fulton Senior!" A maid entered the room. Edith seized the opportunity to escape the uncomfortable situation, "Let's eat first. If you don't, you'll have to go meet your grandfather. I'll stop pestering you, but if he comes to ask you himself..." After the conversation about divorce, Lily always felt awkward about any encounter with Xavier. Thankfully, Edith's constant chatter made the atmosphere much more relaxed. After the meal, Edith pulled Lily aside. "Your room's been prepared. Your in-laws aren't coming back tonight, so you two stay and keep me company." Lily instinctively glanced at Xavier. Staying over meant they'd have to share a room. Given their plan to divorce next Wednesday, sleeping in the same room would be extremely awkward. "What are you looking at him for?" Edith scolded, not giving Lily a chance to refuse. "We've already decided!" In the end, Lily and Xavier were forced to stay. However, once they went upstairs, Xavier headed straight for the study. He would be sleeping in the study. It was the natural choice for a man on the brink of divorce. Lily, thinking this was for the best, went to take a shower. Ten minutes later, she emerged, wrapped in a towel. The bathroom mist clung to her, her damp hair framing her face and cascading down her neck to rest on her collarbone. In front of her stood a man in his pajamas. Xavier had showered in the study, and his hair was still damp. The potent scent of his body overwhelmed Lily as she held her breath, her glistening eyes locking with his cold, piercing gaze. Before she could ask what he was doing, Xavier's strong arm shot out, pulling her into his embrace. Her chest pressed against his. Through the thin towel, she could still feel the warmth of his skin and the heat radiating from his chest, blending with the wetness of her own body, creating an unbearably sensual atmosphere. "What are you doing?" Lily pushed against his chest with one hand, the other clutching at the towel as it threatened to slip off. Xavier's eyes darkened with desire as he gazed at her collarbone. "What do you think?" He pulled her further into his chest. She could feel his body's reaction to the intimacy. Lily's eyes widened in shock as images of Sarah organizing Xavier's resting area flashed through her mind. Did he really need this so badly that he couldn't wait for one more night? Even if he couldn't wait, he shouldn't be thinking about her like this. "Do you need me to remind you? We're supposed to be getting a divorce," she said, her voice shaking. Xavier's lips curled into a mocking smile, as if he had heard a funny joke. He raised his hand to grip her chin, forcing her to look up at him. "You dragged Grandma into this just for an opportunity like this. What are you pretending for?" Edith would spend a month every year on a mountain retreat. Last Saturday, she had gone up, and it had only been a week since. Xavier had thought she had been brought down to set up the "fire" to trick him into coming back. "I was tricked into coming back by Edith, too!" Lily snapped, her voice urgent. She didn't like being misunderstood. Xavier clearly didn't believe her. His hand slid lower on her waist, growing restless. "Stop pretending. It's not funny anymore." He had been without her for days. Given his desire, he was willing to overlook how she had manipulated him into coming back. He wouldn't care that she hadn't apologized yet. As long as he could release his pent-up frustration tonight, everything else would be forgotten. Lily's lips parted to say something, but before she could, Xavier silenced her with a fierce kiss. His kiss was intense, flooding her mouth with such force that it left her lips tingling. The power dynamic between them was undeniable, and as Lily struggled, instead of pulling away, Xavier's desire intensified, fueling his need to dominate her. The towel slipped away, her long hair tumbling down messily. The soft light cast a golden hue on her skin, making her look irresistibly tempting. His body stiffened, his eyes burning with desire as he pulled her closer, his grip tightening. But Lily fought back, refusing to give in. His desire only seemed to grow, making him more frustrated. After two years of marriage, Xavier had come to understand Lily's personality—she was someone who responded to softness, not force. He spoke in a hoarse, magnetic voice. "I thought you wanted this? I'm just granting your wish." Lily's body softened at the words, her mind unraveling. Her figure was full and curvaceous, and her naked body was slim yet shapely. Xavier lost control for a moment and pressed her against the wall, kissing her more deeply. Lily felt dizzy, but instantly regained her composure and, without hesitation, bit down hard. A sharp pain surged through his tongue, the taste of iron filling his mouth as his fiery gaze turned to fury. "Lily, are you done yet? This is your last chance. Are you sure you want to keep messing around?"